November 1, 2021 - No. 84 In This Issue : Aviation Industry Emerges As Unexpected Obstacle In Path of 5G Rollout : ZeroAvia Seeks Airline For First Commercial Hydrogen Flight : Ultra-Low Emissions Aircraft Turn Initiative Reduces CO2 Emissions by 97% : Electric plane reaches important milestone in New Zealand : ATP and Flightdocs Solidifies its Commitment to Customer Service and the Customer Experience : Future of Travel Will Be Led by Sustainability, Innovation : This solar-powered British drone will surveil from the stratosphere : Energy Vault to provide 1.6 GWh of gravity energy storage to support DG Fuels SAF projects : DHL Express Will Deliver Packages Sustainably In A Fully Electric Plane : Dubai airport to return to full capacity in two weeks: Sheikh Ahmed : Amazon is launching its first internet satellites next year. It'll be around 2,000 satellites behind SpaceX. Aviation Industry Emerges As Unexpected Obstacle In Path of 5G Rollout A continuing debate between government agencies and industry groups over 5G technology’s potential impact on airline safety is entering a new stage. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is planning to warn pilots and airlines that a new 5G technology may interfere with certain automated features on aircraft, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday (Oct. 29). This is the latest move in a clash between the FAA and the aviation industry on the one side and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which regulates commercial use of the airwaves, and telecom groups, on the other. The agencies have been discussing the issue for months. At stake is the use of certain spectrum designated for use by 5G, which is one of the enabling technologies powering new connected economy use cases, PYMNTS CEO Karen Webster said in a recent opinion piece. In its new move, the FAA has been drafting a special bulletin and accompanying mandates on the matter, the report said, citing current and former government and aviation industry officials who had been briefed on the matter. The aviation industry has been concerned about plans to use C-band spectrum for more than a year, Reuters said Friday. The news agency reported Friday that two officials confirmed the Wall Street Journal report, saying the FAA will soon issue a bulletin and a directive about the issue. Deep Concern About the Potential Impact The FAA’s warning is expected to focus on wireless towers transmitting the new 5G signals that are scheduled to begin in early December, and not consumers’ cell phones, the Wall Street Journal reported. The agency says the signals from those towers could affect the cockpit systems that help planes land in poor weather, prevent crashes and avoid midair collisions. In an Oct. 6 letter obtained by Reuters, FAA Deputy Administrator Bradley Mims said the agency shares the airline industry’s “deep concern about the potential impact to aviation safety resulting from interference to radar altimeter performance from 5G network operations in the C band.” Similarly, a letter signed by 21 aviation organizations in July said, “The aviation industry has analyzed the 5G service rules and firmly believes that these new systems will create a public safety hazard. (…) Simply, we will not be able to maintain the current level of public safety without additional support from the Biden-Harris administration and the implementation of short-term mitigations by the cellular industry.” This letter was sent to the heads of the Department of Transportation and the Department of Commerce. Safely Used In About 40 Countries The FCC, on the other hand, says the available evidence does not support that conclusion, the Wall Street Journal reported. The agency reviewed 5G networks’ potential impact on aviation before setting rules for the spectrum. The CTIA, an association representing the U.S. wireless communications industry, maintains a website devoted to 5G and airline safety and says, “5G networks using a set of radio waves called ‘C-band spectrum’ operate safely and without causing harmful interference to aviation equipment.” It reports that about 40 countries are safely using C-band spectrum for 5G today, with no evidence of interference. Looking ahead, an FAA spokesman quoted by the Wall Street Journal said the agency was working with other government officials “so that aviation and the newest generation of 5G cellular technology can safely coexist.” https://www.pymnts.com/transportation/2021/aviation-industry-emerges-as-unexpected-obstacle-in-path-of-5g-rollout/ ZeroAvia Seeks Airline For First Commercial Hydrogen Flight Hydrogen-electric commercial air service could start between London and Rotterdam in 2024, based on a partnership announced last week involving propulsion system developer ZeroAvia, the Royal Schiphol Group, Rotterdam The Hague Airport, and the airport's RTHI innovation foundation. The partners say they have reached advanced talks with prospective airlines to operate the flights with the 19-seat Dornier 228 twin turboprop that ZeroAvia uses as a technology demonstrator. ZeroAvia is already working to develop a 600-kW hydrogen-fuel-cell-based powertrain that could apply to multiple 19-seater aircraft. Having secured two Do-228 test aircraft, it intends to start flight testing the first of them as part of its HyFlyer II program later this year. UK-based regional carrier Aurigny Air has provided one of the test aircraft. HyFlyer II's objective is to support a range of up to around 500 miles, which is significantly farther than the 200-mile London to Rotterdam route. During the earlier HyFlyer I project, which used a six-seat Piper Malibu aircraft, ZeroAvia said that it achieved cruise flight fueled entirely by hydrogen-electric power, with batteries used only for supplementary power during takeoff. The company explained to AIN that it will conduct work on the 600 kW system in stages, starting with a hybrid hydrogen fuel cell and battery combination this year, then progressing to hydrogen-only flight in mid-2022. ZeroAvia recently established a company in the Netherlands it says will support its efforts to develop commercial applications for its propulsion technology in the country and throughout the 27 European Union (EU) member states. It says the new partnership will collaborate on regulation, testing, and adoption of technology for commercial operations. The California-based venture also has a subsidiary in the UK, allowing it to benefit from financial support provided by the UK-government-backed Aerospace Technology Institute. That company, based at Cotswold Airport in the west of England, now employs more than 50 people and anticipates hiring more, as it continues certification work with the UK Civil Aviation Authority. “Boarding a zero-emission flight from Rotterdam to London is only the beginning of green aviation, and that will only be made possible by pioneering and promoting innovation in the sector,” said Rotterdam The Hague Airport CEO Ron Louwerse. “With the Netherlands as the testing ground for aviation, we strengthen our competitive position, knowledge base, and business climate.” In the longer term, ZeroAvia intends to convert larger airliners, carrying 50 to 100 seats, to hydrogen propulsion. Such a project would require powertrains rated between 2 and 5 MW. The original Dornier 228 remained in production until 1998 and was powered by a pair of Garrett TPE331 turboprops. In 2009, Ruag started working on a so-called New Generation version of the aircraft in partnership with Hindustan Aeronautics, before selling the program to General Atomics. More recently, the Bavarian state government has been funding a program led by German aerospace research group DLR and MTU Aero Engines to develop a hybrid-electric version. https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2021-11-01/zeroavia-seeks-airline-first-commercial-hydrogen-flight Ultra-Low Emissions Aircraft Turn Initiative Reduces CO2 Emissions by 97% easyJet and Bristol Airport have announced they have achieved close to zero emission aircraft turnarounds through the use of electric powered ground equipment instead of diesel. The initiative is part a collaboration between easyJet and Bristol Airport to decarbonize ground operations at the airport. The trial results have shown a 97% reduction in CO2 emissions using the daily data produced throughout September. Switching to electric ground equipment including steps, baggage trollies, belt loaders and ground power units to service the aircraft between flights is one of a number of initiatives focused on reducing emissions. It forms part of a wider program of cutting-edge developments and operational efficiency initiatives. easyJet is using Bristol Airport as a test-bed to trial and implement the latest technological and innovative solutions for decarbonizing its operations and reducing waste. Any successful results from the trials will have the potential to be rolled out across easyJet’s network which spans 150 airports across 35 countries. The six-month trial commenced on Sept. 1, 2021 using two dedicated aircraft stands used by easyJet aircraft. The results to date show a saving of 1721 kgs of carbon during the period the electrical equipment was in use with only 59 kgs used compared with 1780 kgs emitted using like-for-like diesel equipment. The joint partnership works with various expert associates and partners including TCR, DHL, ITW, Up and Away and Terbergh. Projects and trials will include work in the following areas: electric ground power units sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) electric passenger coach transportation recycling and waste management employee carbon-saving initiatives supply chain carbon reductions aircraft continuous descent approaches zero carbon emission aircraft turnarounds NEO aircraft deployment and fleet optimization Johan Lundgren, CEO, easyJet, said: “At easyJet, we want to play our part to lead the decarbonization of aviation, so we are delighted to see the results of this successful trial which has create a meaningful reduction in operational emissions by embracing the technology available to us today. “The learnings from the Bristol trial will help us shape our sustainability strategy for future operational changes – all of which will help enable easyJet’s transition towards our goal of net zero emissions by 2050. “Alongside carbon offsetting and flying efficiently with a young, modern fleet, reducing the impact of our airport operations alongside our airport partners is an important component of our decarbonization pathway while we are supporting the development of zero-emission aircraft for the future of flying.” Dave Lees, CEO, Bristol Airport said: “This is an outstanding achievement by all partners involved. The trial has reduced aircraft turnaround emissions by 97%. This is another demonstration of how working together, including partners and experts in their field, we are able to create a positive reduction in carbon emissions today. “As an airport we are taking our commitments to address climate change seriously and this trial is only one initiative we are delivering on towards achieving a net zero airport operation by 2030. “We will continue to work in partnership with easyJet to enable us to develop joint initiatives and projects to contribute towards decarbonising aviation and the creation of green jobs.” Rob O’Dare, airfield technical and compliance manager, Bristol Airport added: “Leading on sustainability projects of this nature, at the forefront of what is possible, is hugely rewarding. “This project has been particularly satisfying as a result of the the teamwork demonstrated by the multiple participants, including amongst others EasyJet, DHL, TCR and ITW that was needed to pull this together. “Many of those partners have invested in the trial significantly in terms of time and equipment at no cost, understanding that we are investing in the social responsibility the aviation industry carries. “The low emission turnaround trial is just one of many initiatives Bristol Airport and easyJet are working on as part of our sustainability partnership.” https://www.aviationpros.com/gse/gse-technology/green-alternative-energy-gse/press-release/21244667/easyjet-ultralow-emissions-aircraft-turn-initiative-reduces-co2-emissions-by-97 Electric plane reaches important milestone in New Zealand It will probably take a long time before we see commercial electric airplanes, but that doesn’t mean we’re not seeing progress. Pilot Gary Freedman crossed New Zealand’s Cook Strait with a two-seater electric plane owned by the company ElectricAir. It’s the first emission-free plane to make the flight across the strait. The Cook Strait separates the North and South Islands of New Zealand, extending northwest to southeast from the Tasman Sea to the south Pacific Ocean. It’s a notoriously difficult route by sea because of its treacherous currents and fierce storms, so travel between the North Island and the South Island is mainly done by rail ferry or air. The strait is named after James Cook, the first European commander to sail through it, in 1770. The first flight over the strait was in 1920 by Captain Euan Dickson, flying for Henry Wigram’s Canterbury Aviation Company. But now it was about time to shake things up, introducing what could be a new way of flying across the islands. The trip in the electric plane lasted 45 minutes, with a cruising speed of 150 kilometers per hour. While it likely wasn’t much faster than the biplane that Dickson used 101 years ago, the flight cost only $2 in electricity. ElectricAir estimates that the same flight in a similar-sized plane powered by fuel would have used about $100 in plane fuel — so it’s a big chance to not just reduce emissions, but also lower traveling costs. Celebrating the arrival of the plane in Wellington, New Zealand’s Climate Change Minister James Shaw commented: “We’ve always needed aviation, particularly when it comes to our regional access, and electric aviation opens up a lot of these small remote places, because obviously electricity is so much cheaper than aviation fuel.” Freedman said New Zealand has the highest number of short-haul flights per capital in the world and said he was hopeful that this new technology can create an “electric bridge” between the islands to reduce greenhood gas emissions. The flight coincided with the opening of the COP26 climate change summit in the UK, set to continue during the next two weeks. Aviation accounts for about 2.4% of the global greenhouse gas emissions. The sector wasn’t included in the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change and its emissions are rising fast – increasing 32% between 2013 and 2018. A return flight from London to San Francisco, for example, is estimated to emit 5.5 tons of CO2 equivalent per person — that’s almost as much as the average European emits in an entire year. Airlines grouped under the Air Transport Association have committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with most emissions reductions coming from sustainable aviation fuel – less polluting than the traditional jet fuel. But it won’t be simple, as there’s a very limited supply of sustainable fuel being produced annually. Furthermore, aviation emissions aren’t included in the Paris Agreement, which means there’s less external pressure on airlines. The use of batteries in electric planes has also been considered, but this is still very tricky as it would mean using a battery with massive energy output. Another element to address is energy consumption during flights. While a car can be charged when it runs low on electricity during a ride, an airplane can’t do this during flights over water. Still, for shorter trips, electric airplanes may be in sight. Much like electric cars seemed far away but progressed quickly in just a decade, electric planes also seemed like a pipe dream, but are now close to reaching commercial price-effectiveness. So, would you ride on an electric plane if given the chance? https://www.zmescience.com/science/electric-plane-new-zealand-01112021/ ATP and Flightdocs Solidifies its Commitment to Customer Service and the Customer Experience CUSTOMER SERVICE, CONTINUAL INNOVATION ATP Flightdocs is the aviation industry's most advanced software solution for aviation maintenance, inventory, & operations management, delivering an optimized and fully integrated flight department. With ATP's mission of making the aviation industry safer and more reliable through software, it only made sense to join forces with Flightdocs as the missing piece to ATP's offerings. When Flightdocs joined with ATP last year, the team's resources and level of expertise instantly multiplied, said Lee Brewster, ATP vice president of marketing and engagement. "The breadth of knowledge across the organization encompasses every aspect of the business, including expanded aviation maintenance expertise," she explained. Once a part of ATP, the Flightdocs management team welcomed the opportunity to continue creating unique products and services that drive efficiencies and bring benefits to customers across all verticals of the aviation industry. Today the ATP staff, including the Flightdocs team, have more than 350 combined years of aviation maintenance experience. This total jumps even higher when overall aviation industry experience is included. As always, customer service continues to be the priority, with one-fifth of the staff devoted to customer success and support as their primary role. "As a company, we are always striving to make our customers' operations more efficient, provide a means of saving time, and ultimately saving money," said John Koci, ATP senior client services manager. "I'm a firm believer that the paperwork should never take longer than the actual task, and Flightdocs ensures that isn't the case." Koci said the Flightdocs team at ATP is making a powerful impact on the aviation industry by continually evolving and delivering innovative features. "Being able to access your entire publications library from a right-click is something no one else offers and is truly game-changing!" he said. Kent Pickard, ATP senior director Flightdocs product, has also seen his team set a high bar for customer service and technology. "We answer the phone in two rings, and our software solution has achieved 99.99%+ uptime, with the only scheduled downtime periods once a year at most," he said. With Flightdocs now an integrated part of ATP, Pickard sees the investment expanding the product's current capabilities while adding big new ones in parallel. He and his team are looking forward to bringing business aviation the capabilities that commercial Part 121 operators have long enjoyed. "Specifically, we see opportunities to leverage the current strengths of ChronicX (non-routine tracking and reliability analysis) and SpotLight (diagnostic troubleshooting) for business aviation," he said. THE RESOURCES AND EXPERTISE TO SUCCEED With this type of investor backing, ATP is poised to take not just Flightdocs but all the products in its software portfolio to the next level. Its software tools are developed to bring all the cloud and mobile technology advantages directly to the maintenance technicians and crew – when and where they need it. "I get excited when I see companies actively developing solutions that can truly take both qualitative and quantitative data to the next level for clear and concise decision-making," said Brewster. "That is where ATP is going, and we have the people and the expertise to get there." "The Flightdocs integration with the ATP hub has been a huge win in furthering our cause, which is to simplify the lives of our customers," said Greg Diognardi, ATP director of client services. "Having a private equity firm back us indicates our vision has been recognized, and our plan for the future is clear." THE VALUE OF FLIGHTDOCS TO ATP CUSTOMERS Rick Noble, ATP CEO, notes that ATP and Flightdocs have served the business aviation market for years before their merger in 2020. ATP leadership had long been interested in Flightdocs to expand within that market and provide additional tools and efficiencies to its customers. "We were also highly impressed with the product," Noble explained. "It is number two in the software maintenance market, with a very modern interface that is very intuitive to use. We also liked the fact that they were passionate about customer service." Since Flightdocs joined ATP, the product has introduced the integration of the Aviation Hub directly in the platform, bringing additional value and convenience to the users. "This means that if you are a Flightdocs customer and you find you need to consult a technical publication on the aircraft you are working on, you can click right through from Flightdocs to the relevant publication," Noble said. "We have several other joint product opportunities in mind as well. The whole idea is to let the customer focus on what they are doing with the aircraft, versus having to stop and search for technical information or regulatory content," he said. On the horizon, Noble looks forward to future enhancements that will improve the Flightdocs Operations module and add new features for 3rd party maintenance. This new functionality is in development and scheduled to roll out in 2022. SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT, EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES Since its 1973 founding, ATP's technologies and services have transformed how maintenance professionals access and use information, establishing themselves as the leading source for aircraft technical publications and real-time regulatory information. Over the years, its offerings evolved from paper-based to cloud-based, and a 2016 acquisition brought new products into the ATP portfolio, including software for commercial airline customers to identify risks and diagnostic tools. The company came closer to its goal of becoming a comprehensive product-driven, customer-first software leader when it joined forces with Flightdocs in mid-2020. The company's innovative product lines now include the Aviation Hub, Flightdocs, ChronicX, and SpotLight, all focused on reducing operating costs, improving aircraft reliability, and supporting technical knowledge sharing and collaboration. ATP's outstanding ability to deliver a complete software solution to those customers has drawn committed investment partners over the last six years. The driver of ATP's recent progress and plans for the future is a significant growth investment made in August 2021 by Accel-KKR, a global technology-focused private equity firm, and continued support from its original investor ParkerGale Capital. Accel-KKR's latest investment in ATP will fuel continued market expansion for ATP and Flightdocs and ATP's other software products by accelerating strategies to pursue the company's vision of becoming the market leader in aviation information and workflow software solutions serving every segment of aviation. The investment also represents "a strong continued vote of confidence in ATP, and in the exciting opportunities that lie ahead for the aviation software industry at large," said Dean Jacobson, Accel-KKR managing director. "Today, ATP is the industry gold standard for innovation, reliability and quality in the aviation industry," said Rick Noble, ATP CEO. He added that thanks to the support of its investors, "the company is ready to write its next chapter, which is to harness its product leadership for accelerated growth." https://www.ainonline.com/sponsored-content/business-aviation/2021-11-01/atp-and-flightdocs-solidifies-its-commitment-customer-service-and-customer-experience Future of Travel Will Be Led by Sustainability, Innovation The travel industry is heading into the future at full speed. The U.S. Travel Association convened its first-ever Future of Travel Mobility summit. The event took place in Washington, D.C., and virtually brought together industry leaders, policymakers and innovators who spoke on how to develop seamless, sustainable and secure travel. As the Biden administration and Congress weigh the measures of the elusive infrastructure bill, the message from the travel industry was loud and clear: The time is now to build cleaner, safer and more secure ways to travel and America should lead the way. “These conversations are so important because we see that new, innovative transportation solutions are more than a customer preference — they are a necessity as we look ahead to the future of our industry,” said U.S. Travel Association president and CEO Roger Dow. “This is an opportunity to build a travel industry that is stronger, more modern and more globally competitive than ever before.” Research shows that Americans are on board with innovation but are planning fewer trips in the future. New research from Ipsos and the U.S. Travel Association found that one in four (24%) Americans plan to take fewer leisure trips than they did prior to the pandemic, and business travelers are also planning to be on the road less with two in five saying they will travel less over the next two years. What is keeping people home? Ipsos found that travel would only increase if Americans had access to more sustainable, seamless, secure and modern travel options, including electric vehicles; airlines and fuels that produced fewer carbon emissions; improved Transportation Security Administration screening; and more efficient transportation technologies such as hyperloops or supersonic aircraft. Panel discussions touched on a broad range of subjects, but sustainability and innovation were at the forefront of every conversation. Guests included members of the Biden administration, lawmakers from Capitol Hill, airline CEOs and innovators whose companies are readying for a new travel ecosystem. The list of speakers and panelists included U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., U.S. Rep. John Katko, R-N.Y., and Austin Brown, Senior Director for Transportation Emissions, White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy. Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian joined Dow for a lunchtime fireside chat, and Mark Reuss, president of General Motors Co., gave a lengthy interview on the future of the auto industry and an electrified future for automakers. Josh Giegel, CEO and co-founder of Virgin Hyperloop, explained how this new tech could streamline intercity travel, reducing the amount of time people will need to get through crowded travel corridors such as Washington, D.C., to New York City. Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, is ready to supercharge the skies with sleek planes that shave hours off travel between international hubs around the world, and JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby Aviation wants to make short connections between destinations a breeze with short-range, battery-powered aircraft. Key takeaways of the Future or Travel Mobility summit framed the pandemic as a reset. "The pandemic can be a portal," said Julia Cosgrove, editor in chief at AFar. "We can reset and make travel more sustainable and secure." Industry leaders and some lawmakers believe that now is the time for biometrics, that the tech is highly accurate--more so than humans and that we can refine it to be even better. Leaders also agreed that electric vehicles are the way of the future. The biggest barrier is "range anxiety," Range anxiety, however, GM announced that it is giving 40,000 chargers to dealers around the country, and there was broad agreement that an EV charging network was an infrastructure priority in the country. "The infrastructure we build today will determine if we travel sustainably for decades to come, said Virgin's Giegel. Buttigieg noted that the time is now to make changes. "The 2020s will be characterized by changes that are swift and profound," he said. These meaningful discussions on the path forward to an innovative future are key to rebuilding the economy and creating a more sustainable travel industry. “U.S. Travel is proud to bring so many incredibly relevant industry and government leaders together for this critical discussion across the travel, transportation and technology sectors," said U.S. Travel Association executive vice president of public affairs and policy Tori Emerson Barnes. "It is imperative that we continue to collaborate to drive the necessary policy outcomes and bring new ideas to the forefront to benefit the U.S. economy and travelers alike." https://www.aviationpros.com/airlines/news/21244691/future-of-travel-will-be-led-by-sustainability-innovation This solar-powered British drone will surveil from the stratosphere Traditional drones and satellites for military surveillance could be joined by the PHASA-35: a new uncrewed aircraft developed in the UK that flies in the stratosphere— a part of the atmosphere unencumbered by other aircraft or satellites. “It stays up for a long while and it can look a long way—those are two of the real key attributes for a surveillance platform,” notes Drew Steel, an aviation adviser for BAE Systems, the company that is developing the system after acquiring it from its initial designers at the British company, Prismatic. PHASA-35 stands for “Persistent High Altitude Solar Aircraft.” The number 35 is its wingspan in meters: that’s 115 feet, as wide as those of a Boeing 737. But the carbon fiber aircraft weighs a mere 330 pounds, which is one three-thousandth the weight of the 737. The drone is a high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) unmanned air vehicle that runs on solar-powered electric engines during the day, and lithium-ion batteries at night. It’s designed to fly at an altitude of about 65,000 feet in the stratosphere, the layer between Earth’s atmosphere and space. For comparison, a passenger aircraft flies no higher than 42,000 feet. Because the air there is about a thousand times thinner than it is closer to the Earth, the aircraft’s wings have to be extremely long to keep it airborne. Steel says that “the solar power enables [the PHASA-35] to stay airborne for up to a year and at 65,000 feet, it’s above all the traffic and most of the weather, so it can look a long way.” The company that designed it, Prismatic, had built two full-sized concept PHASA-35 aircraft. Phil Varty, head of business development for PHASA-35 at BAE Systems, told PopSci at the DSEI exhibition last month in London that it took just two years for the team to take it from a design to its first flight in February, 2020. That first flight was in the Woomera Test Range, over the virtually uninhabited outback of South Australia. During this test, it operated under full autonomous flight control, and the aerodynamic, propulsion, and power efficiency performed “exactly as expected,” BAE Systems reported. Then, in October 2020, the aircraft operated for 72 hours (down on the ground) in an environment that simulated the bitterly cold temperatures and extreme pressure of the stratosphere. These tests, undertaken at Prismatic’s facility near Farnborough, just west of London, also allowed the team to practice various in-flight operations such as the transition from day and solar power to night and battery power. The company expects it to be in service within the next four or five years. “Even if Covid has frustrated some of our test flights, we’ve been continuing to work on the development program and done a huge amount of work on development testing,” Dave Corfield, Prismatic’s CEO, says. “The first true development aircraft is currently being assembled in the UK.” The fragile-looking aircraft is so light that it can be rolled out onto the runway on its two sets of wheels, each set consisting of two modified bicycle wheels. It has low forward speed, just about 15 to 30 miles per hour. As it gets airborne, it jettisons the wheels. Without wheels, and thus no landing gear, it is lighter and able to fly so slowly that when it needs to, it can land gently on its belly. “It might get a little scratched and we may have to replace a few parts, but it certainly isn’t damaged beyond repair,” Varty remarks. The ability to get airborne without needing the hugely expensive rockets that are used to put satellites into orbit and the fact that it is theoretically infinitely reusable make this aircraft significantly more cost-effective than a satellite. The PHASA-35 could potentially plug the gap between aircraft and satellite technology. However, it is not designed to replace satellites, as it can only carry a 33-pound payload, such as a camera, while satellites can carry up to 53,700 pounds into low Earth orbit (99 to 621 miles above Earth) and 8,390 pounds into geostationary transfer orbit (22,236 miles). But it can carry the kind of cameras developed for the military that can have a resolution of 8 inches. That means PHASA-35 could theoretically see (but not read) a book on a table from its perch in the stratosphere! That’s more than enough to observe the movements of people, vehicles, ships or aircraft that might be of interest to the military. But the system is also of interest to civilian organizations that need to monitor something such as an oil leak or forest fires. “Operating this type of aircraft requires a completely different mindset,” Steel says. “You won’t launch it when you need it, but when you can. Get it up there when the conditions are right and then minimize its energy use whilst it’s on a holding pattern waiting to be given a mission.” He added that “you’d need several of these aircraft up there, dotted around in different zones, because they don’t fly fast, around 30 mph, so it might take a few days for one to get to its mission position. Once it gets there it will fly an appropriate flight path and it could even be stationary.” He explained that “if the mission is to watch a small patch and there is a 10-knot [11.51 mph] wind, for example, we could slow the aircraft’s speed down to 10 knots and then it would be stationary.” The prototypes for the PHASA are controlled by ground link, but there will be a transition to beyond-line-of-sight control that uses “satellites as a relay to talk to the airplane,” Corfield explains. He adds that the US-based flight trials planned for this year could not take place because of bad weather. “We had a team out in the USA on a test range in the desert for the summer but never got the climatic conditions to get the stratospheric flight,” he says. The two prototype aircraft have been left in the United States and the team will go back early in 2022 to try again. They’re hopeful that Covid restrictions will be lifted by then so they can return to Australia for further tests. There are few other HALEs out there. The best known is the Global Hawk, from Northrop Grumman. This US drone, used for surveillance and intelligence-gathering missions, has a wingspan two feet longer than the PHASA—but its empty weight is 14,950 lb and it is powered by an engine that needs fuel. Watch the aircraft’s first flight, below: https://youtu.be/PbUe0HMfAYg https://www.popsci.com/technology/solar-powered-drone-will-fly-stratosphere/ Energy Vault to provide 1.6 GWh of gravity energy storage to support DG Fuels SAF projects Energy Vault, a company developing grid-scale gravity energy storage solutions, has entered into an energy storage system agreement with DG Fuels, a developer of renewable hydrogen and biogenic-based, synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and diesel fuel. Under the terms of the agreement, Energy Vault agreed to provide 1.6 gigawatt hours (GWh) of gravity energy storage to support DG Fuels across multiple projects, with the first project slated for 500 megawatt hours (MWh) in Louisiana. DG Fuels expects to complete its Louisiana SAF project by mid-2022. This initial project will be followed by additional projects in British Columbia and Ohio. Energy Vault’s advanced gravity energy storage solutions are based on the proven physics and mechanical engineering fundamentals of pumped hydroelectric energy storage, but replace water with custom-made composite blocks, or “mobile masses”, which do not lose storage capacity over time. The system uses proprietary technology to autonomously orchestrate the lifting and lowering of the bricks, storing the potential energy in the elevation gain, and generating then discharging electricity as the bricks are lowered. The composite blocks can be made from low-cost and locally sourced materials, including the excavated soil at the construction site, but can also utilize waste materials such as mine tailings, coal combustion residuals (coal ash), and fiberglass from decommissioned wind turbine blades. Additionally, the Energy Vault systems are intended to minimize environmental and supply chain risks, which was a critical factor in the final selection by DG Fuels. The systems are automated with advanced computer control and machine vision software that orchestrate the charging and discharging cycles while meeting a broad set of storage durations starting from 2 hours and continuing to 12 hours, or more. DG Fuels (DGF) aims to develop several facilities in North America and Europe, designed to produce low-carbon sustainable aviation fuel by combining carbon from waste feedstock with green hydrogen from renewable sources. The Louisiana facility is the company’s first major project. Each facility will produce low-emissions fuel in a process that converts agricultural and timber waste feedstock into fuel with a carbon efficiency of approximately 93% or more—meaning that the project can produce more fuel with less feedstock than other processes. DGF’s fuel production system better utilizes biomass feedstock over conventional biomass-to-liquids projects because of DGF’s use of waste CO2 to make additional fuel. Depending on feedstock carbon content, DGF produces up to 3.6 barrels of biogenic blending component per ton of biomass feedstock compared to most other competitors who achieve about 1.1>1.3 barrel per ton of feedstock. The basis of DGF’s integrated fuel and energy technology is the proven Fischer-Tropsch process, in use for more than 60 years. Existing plants around the world produce more than 170,000 BBL per day of synthetic fuel using Fischer-Tropsch. These facilities typically use approximately one ton of coal to produce one BBL of hydrocarbons, with a life cycle CO2-emissions calculation that is slightly worse than equivalent fuels derived from conventional oil refining. DGF’s method modifies the established Fischer-Tropsch system with several mechanisms that will decrease the CO2-life-cycle emissions and reduce the quantity of feed-stock required. These changes eliminate the need for carbon sequestration and reduce the system’s feed-stock handling costs and complexity. Additionally, DGF’s production method produces ASTM-certified direct replacement fuel with greater fuel density, lower particulate and NOx emissions. The feed-stock reduction is achieved primarily by supplementing the process with oxygen and hydrogen produced by water electrolysis units that are powered by clean wind and solar generated electricity. DGF replaces the coal gasification used by others with biomass gasification and natural gas reforming. This simplifies implementation and further reduces new carbon emissions created in the process. DG Fuels will deploy Energy Vault’s gravity storage systems to provide green electricity in conjunction with photovoltaic solar to firm and shape the renewable energy to match the demand load of the green hydrogen production. The renewable power will be used to power HydrogenPro water electrolysis for both hydrogen and oxygen feedstock production. Energy Vault expects the agreement with DGF to provide up to $520 million in revenue across the three projects, the first of which expected to commence in mid-2022. https://www.greencarcongress.com/2021/10/20211031-energyvault.html DHL Express Will Deliver Packages Sustainably In A Fully Electric Plane On August 3, 2021, DHL Express, a world-leading express service provider, and Eviation, the global manufacturer of fully-electric aircraft, wrote aviation history in announcing that DHL is the first to order 12 Alice eCargo all-electric planes from Eviation. With this commitment, DHL aims to establish an “unparalleled electric Express network” and pave the way to a sustainable aviation future. Eviation’s Alice is the world’s leading all-electric aircraft, which allows airlines – both passenger and cargo – to operate a zero-emission fleet. Eviation expects to deliver the first order of the Alice electric aircraft to DHL Express in 2024. John Pearson, the CEO of DHL Express, explained: We firmly believe in a future with zero-emission logistics. Therefore, our investments always follow the objective of improving our carbon footprint. On our way to clean logistics operations, the electrification of every transport mode plays a crucial role and will significantly contribute to our overall sustainability goal of zero emissions. Eviation first unveiled its nine-seater all-electric passenger plane in 2019 at the Paris Air Show, which generated a lot of attention. The Alice aircraft boasted small-range routes of around 1,000 miles (1,600 km), a cruise speed of 240 knots (276 mph or 445 km/h), and a per-charge range of 650 miles (1,046 km). When Eviation revealed an upgraded prototype earlier this year, those figures changed to 440 nautical miles (815 km) of range from an 820-kWh battery pack and a cruise speed of 220 Knots (253 mph or 407 km/h) from the three variable-pitch pusher propellers (one at the back, and one on each wing.) In July, the production design was modified again, abandoning the V-tail setup and replacing it with two magni650 electric propulsion units from magniX at the rear. However, cruise speed and range remained the same. And it appears that this configuration will be the final one heading DHL’s way for the eCargo model. This single-pilot aircraft will be capable of hauling up to 1,200 kg (2,600 lb) of cargo. The battery pack will get topped up while the plane is on the ground during loading and unloading operations, requiring 30 minutes or less per flight hour. Travis Cobb, the EVP of Global Network Operations & Aviation at DHL Express, said: With Alice’s range and capacity, this is a fantastic sustainable solution for our global network and will be targeted for operations in the southeast and west coast of the United States. We aspire to make a substantial contribution in reducing our carbon footprint, and these advancements in fleet and technology will go a long way in achieving further carbon reductions. For our customers and us, this is a very important step in our decarbonization journey and a step forward for the aviation industry as a whole. With innovation, sustainability, and performance as its guide, Eviation is creating a new aviation era with its all-electric Alice aircraft. Alice is specifically designed so that it can be configured for e-cargo or passengers. Eviation’s Alice nine-seat all-electric passenger aircraft is on track for its first flight later this year. The benefits of electric airplanes go beyond their apparent environmental impact. They would open up practical advantages too. Their lower fuel and maintenance costs (because of their simpler motors and drivetrain) could make fares significantly cheaper. Furthermore, they could handle the shorter trips and thus improve the efficiency of major airports. Such light and low-cost aircraft could also go places that never made sense for traditional planes to go, opening up new destinations and transport routes. Some countries have incorporated electric aviation into their green agenda. Norway and Sweden, for example, have committed to 100% electric short-haul flights by 2040. Also, industry giants such as EasyJet and Airbus are working on their own electric aircraft. EasyJet is developing a battery-powered plane with a 500-km (310-mi) range, while Airbus plans to test its hybrid aircraft by 2022. The DHL Group is aiming for zero-emissions operations by 2050. It plans to invest €7 billion (roughly US$8.3 billion) into its sustainability drive by 2030 to reduce its CO2 emissions. The funds will primarily electrify its last-mile delivery vehicles, use sustainable aviation fuels, and make climate-neutral buildings. https://www.intelligentliving.co/dhl-express-deliver-packages-sustainably-electric-plane/ Dubai airport to return to full capacity in two weeks: Sheikh Ahmed Dubai airports will return to full capacity following the re-opening of its last closed concourse in two weeks as the aviation industry recovers from a turbulent spell brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, its top official says. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA), chairman of Dubai Airports and chairman and CEO of Emirates Group, said Dubai International Airport (DXB) will return to full capacity for the first time since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. ““Through strategic planning, world-class measures and advanced technology, we have shown that we can overcome any challenge,” Sheikh Ahmed said at a press conference on Monday to share details about forthcoming Dubai Airshow, starting November 14. Dubai Airports reopened Terminal 1 at Dubai International Airport in June after a 15-month closure due to the coronavirus pandemic. Terminal 1 has an annual passenger capacity of 18 million passengers while the airport is capable of handling up to 100 million passengers annually. “A pragmatic response that focused on protecting the health and well-being of the people as a top priority while minimising the impact of the crisis on the nation’s economy. A response that was backed by our ability to adapt quickly to maintain our hard-earned position as one of the world’s most important aviation, tourism and trade hubs,” Sheikh Ahmed said. “By welcoming international leaders and experts from across the globe, we are paving the way for new partnerships that will drive recovery and future growth,” he added. Before pandemic, the airport connected more than 240 destinations across six continents on more than 100 airlines. Incredible aviation recovery Paul Griffiths, chief executive of Dubai Airports, expects a quick turnaround in aviation industry as travel demand picked up following reopening of borders. “The aviation industry may return to pre-pandemic levels before 2025 due to incredible growth in the past few weeks. “We may achieve full recovery before 2025. Dubai Airports is expected to exceed its 28 million international passengers target this year,” Griffiths told Khaleej Times at the event. Dubai International Airport is expected to grow eight per cent to 28 million this year on the back of the reopening of Terminal 1 on June 24 and ease in travel restrictions after successful vaccination drive in the region. In 2020, passenger traffic plummeted 70 per cent to 25.9 million from 86.4 million in 2019. https://www.khaleejtimes.com/aviation/dubai-airport-to-return-to-full-capacity-in-two-weeks-sheikh-ahmed Amazon is launching its first internet satellites next year. It'll be around 2,000 satellites behind SpaceX. Amazon already dominates online retail. Soon, it wants to sell you the internet itself. By late 2022, the company will launch the first satellites for Project Kuiper, a broadband service that will beam internet down from space, the company said Monday. The online-retail juggernaut said it plans to send two prototype satellites into orbit to start. The initial launches will help Amazon fine-tune its satellite design and launch procedures. "There is no substitute for on-orbit testing, and we expect to learn a lot given the complexity and risk of operating in such a challenging environment," Rajeev Badyal, Project Kuiper's vice president of technology, said in a statement. Amazon has contracted ABL Space Systems, a rocket startup, to launch the satellites into low Earth orbit. Amazon has said that the Project Kuiper constellation will eventually comprise 3,236 satellites. Satellite internet providers like Project Kuiper, Starlink, and OneWeb aim to provide high-speed internet to places poorly served by current infrastructure. Theoretically, customers can connect to satellite internet from anywhere in the world, making the services especially valuable for remote communities. Elon Musk's SpaceX is working on a similar product, Starlink, which is much further along in its development. Some 2,000 Starlink satellites already orbit the Earth and the service has thousands of beta testers. SpaceX has said that more than 500,000 people have either ordered or placed a deposit for Starlink. Musk and Jeff Bezos' rivalry extends to other space ventures as well. Earlier in 2021, Bezos' rocket company, Blue Origin, lost a bid to SpaceX to send NASA astronauts to the moon. It's challenging the decision in court. https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-project-kuiper-launch-spacex-starlink-competitor-satellite-internet-broadband-2021-11 Curt Lewis